Skip to main content

Trip from Reading, PA to Sugarcreek, PA

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 24m

Distance

269.2 mi

433 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$47

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 11m ★
6 AM
5h 24m
8 AM
5h 51m
10 AM
5h 34m
12 PM
5h 31m
3 PM
5h 35m
5 PM
5h 50m
8 PM
5h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Reading, PA, PA

Reading, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Sugarcreek, PA, PA

Sugarcreek, PA

Jack Pace

Trip Overview

Reading, PA to Sugarcreek, PA is 269.2 miles and takes about 5h 24m via North 5th Street, Centre Avenue, and Pottsville Pike, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, traversing the Northeast region. You'll primarily be on surface roads, so expect a more leisurely pace than a highway drive. With only one recommended stop and a drive under six hours, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

134.6 miles from Reading, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 39m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Keystone Shortway 153 mi 2h 44m
US Highway 322 17.2 mi 25m
Pottsville Pike 14.4 mi 18m
Locust Gap Highway 11.5 mi 13m
Centre Turnpike 10.6 mi 12m
South Market Street 9.7 mi 11m
Sunbury Road 9.4 mi 11m
Twenty-Eighth Division Highway 5.6 mi 8m
Longest stretch: Keystone Shortway — 153 mi, about 2h 44m

Traffic on I-80

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 44 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~1,043 veh/hr typical · worst 1,449

Quietest

2 AM

~187 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.6×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 103 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Reading, PA and Sugarcreek, PA.

1

Start on US 422 Business Alternate

279 ft · 8 sec · Penn Street
2

Turn right onto US 222 BUS

0.5 mi · 55 sec · North 5th Street
3

Turn slight left onto PA 61

3.0 mi · 4 min · Centre Avenue
Use the left lane.
4

Continue on PA 61

4.7 mi · 6 min · Pottsville Pike
Use the straight lane.
5

Continue on PA 61

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Centre Avenue
Use the straight lane.
6

Continue on PA 61

3.2 mi · 3 min · Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Continue on PA 61

0.6 mi · 43 sec · Shoemaker Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
8

Continue on PA 61

2.3 mi · 2 min · Pottsville Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Continue on PA 61

0.3 mi · 19 sec · South 4th Street
10

Continue on PA 61

4.2 mi · 5 min · Pottsville Pike
Use the straight lane.
11

Continue on PA 61

11 mi · 12 min · Centre Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
12

Continue on PA 61

3.0 mi · 3 min · Route 61 South
13

Continue on PA 61

0.3 mi · 18 sec · Pottsville Boulevard
14

Continue on PA 61

0.2 mi · 20 sec · South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
15

Turn left onto US 209

0.1 mi · 10 sec · Mauch Chunk Street
16

At end of road, turn right onto US 209

0.4 mi · 38 sec · South Centre Street
17

Turn left onto US 209

2.3 mi · 4 min · West Market Street
18

Continue on US 209; PA 901

1.8 mi · 2 min · Pottsville Minersville Highway
Use the straight lane.
19

At end of road, turn left onto PA 901

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Sunbury Street
20

Continue on PA 901

9.4 mi · 11 min · Sunbury Road
21

Continue on PA 901

2.2 mi · 2 min · Fairgrounds Road
22

Continue on PA 901

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Locust Gap Highway
23

Continue on PA 54; PA 901

11 mi · 13 min · Locust Gap Highway
24

Continue on PA 54

9.7 mi · 11 min · South Market Street
25

Turn right onto PA 54

0.3 mi · 45 sec · Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
26

Continue on PA 54

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Factory Street
Use the straight lane.
27

Continue on PA 54

3.0 mi · 3 min · Continental Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
28

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
29

Merge onto I 80

153 mi · 2 hr 44 min · Keystone Shortway
30

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward US 322: Strattanville
31

Turn right onto US 322

4.0 mi · 5 min · Route 322
32

Continue on US 322

1.0 mi · 1 min · Main Street
33

Continue on US 322

1.6 mi · 2 min · Twenty-Eighth Division Highway
34

Continue on US 322

1.7 mi · 2 min · East Main Street
35

Turn slight right onto US 322

5.1 mi · 7 min · North 1st Avenue
36

Continue on US 322

12 mi · 17 min · US Highway 322
37

Continue on US 322

2.7 mi · 4 min · Twenty-Eighth Division Highway
38

Continue on US 322

4.8 mi · 7 min · US Highway 322
39

Continue on US 322

1.7 mi · 2 min · Lakes To the Sea Highway
40

Continue on US 322

0.2 mi · 19 sec · 8th Street
41

Turn right onto US 322

0.8 mi · 2 min · Liberty Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
42

Turn right onto US 322

0.2 mi · 40 sec · 13th Street
Use the right lane.
43

Continue on US 322

0.3 mi · 54 sec · Meadville Pike
44

Turn left onto Grant Street

1.3 mi · 2 min · Grant Street
45

Continue on US 322

1.2 mi · 2 min · Twenty-Eighth Division Highway
46

Turn slight left onto Sugarcreek Drive

0.5 mi · 1 min · Sugarcreek Drive
47

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 37 sec · this road
48

Continue on Sugarcreek Drive

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Sugarcreek Drive
49

Turn slight left onto Causeway Drive

63 ft · 2 sec · Causeway Drive
50

Arrive at destination

Causeway Drive

Trip Plan

Given the 5h 24m estimated drive time, leaving Reading, PA in the morning will allow you to reach Sugarcreek, PA with plenty of daylight to spare. The route is entirely on surface roads, so plan for a steady pace and be aware of potential slowdowns in populated areas. With a fuel cost estimate of $43, it's wise to check your fuel level before departing and consider a top-off midway, especially since there's only one recommended stop. This manageable distance means you have flexibility to pause for breaks as needed without feeling rushed.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 134.6 miles from Reading, PA, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 153 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 59 miles or 1h 16m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 134.6 miles or 2h 39m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 12m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sugarcreek, PA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Reading, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Reading, PA

This is one driving day of about 269.2 miles and 5h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Reading, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 153 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Central City, PA, PA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Central City, PA

135 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Lock Haven, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Central City, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 134.6 miles from Reading, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 153 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Centre County Rest Area Westbound

0 mi from route

Montour County Rest Area Westbound

0 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

TA

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Jefferson County Rest Area Eastbound

0.1 mi from route

Clinton County Rest Area Eastbound

0.1 mi from route

Centre County Rest Area Eastbound

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Zachrich Trucking Inc

0.2 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Sapp Brothers Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Clinton County Rest Area Westbound

0.2 mi from route

Montour County Rest Area Eastbound

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.3 mi from route

TA

0.3 mi from route

TA

0.3 mi from route

Jefferson County Rest Area Westbound

0.3 mi from route

Clarion Service Plaza

2.3 mi from route

Gibraltar Park

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour

Birdsboro, Pennsylvania

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 265.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 222 BUS / North 5th Street

Turn right onto US 222 BUS / North 5th Street

Navigation decision point

5
33.8 mi into trip | ~43m in | US 209 / Mauch Chunk Street

Turn left onto US 209 / Mauch Chunk Street

Navigation decision point

5
72 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in | PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road

Turn right onto PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
264.3 mi into trip | ~5h 13m in | US 322 / Liberty Street

Turn right onto US 322 / Liberty Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
6
265.1 mi into trip | ~5h 15m in | US 322 / 13th Street

Turn right onto US 322 / 13th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$47.37 one way

$94.75 round trip

$4.47/gal 25.4 MPG avg 94 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.89 $51.81 $103.61
premium $5.23 $55.39 $110.77
diesel $6.18 $65.49 $130.98

Estimated Tolls: $0.74

Centre Turnpike (10.6 mi) $0.74

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$47

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$73–$98

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 94.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 80.8 0 $28.27 $12.92
Efficient EV 67.3 0 $23.56 $10.77
EV Truck/SUV 107.7 1 $37.69 $17.23

Gas CO2

94 kg

EV CO2

31 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Oct 17, 2026

Origin

Reading, PA

Night in Reading on Saturday

Local time

10:41 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Partly Sunny

N 15 mph 12% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:10AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:10AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ

Destination

Sugarcreek, PA

Night in Sugarcreek on Saturday

Local time

10:41 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Isolated Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

N 6 to 12 mph 20% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:10AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:10AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

1 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 24m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...

21 mi from route ~52 min detour Free near mile 37.1
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This route has a 0% highway share, meaning your entire 269.2-mile drive will be on surface roads. You'll begin on North 5th Street and Centre Avenue before transitioning to Pottsville Pike. Since there are no major highways involved, anticipate navigating through towns and potentially encountering more traffic signals and lower speed limits throughout the 5h 24m duration.

Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
50 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 153 mi on Keystone Shortway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 222 BUS / North 5th Street.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 5h 24m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 222 BUS / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.8 miles (US 209 / Mauch Chunk Street): Navigation decision point; at 72 miles (PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

1,802 ft 253 ft

Total Climb

3,139 ft

Total Descent

2,362 ft

Highest Point

1,802 ft

~192.3 mi in

Elevation Range

1,549 ft

Notable High Points

1,527 ft at ~57.7 miles +831 ft prominence

About the Cities

Starting in Reading, PA

Full guide →

Founded 1748

Reading is a historic city of about 95,000 (2020 Census) in Pennsylvania, about 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia, 35 miles southwest of Allentown and 55 miles east of Harrisburg. It punches above its weight in culture, and its downtown features some iconic buildings, so consider making it a stopover on your way between any of these and other area cities.

Top landmarks

  • • Frederick Lauer Monument — monument in City Park, Reading, Pennsylvania, United States
  • • Skew Arch Bridge

Arriving in Sugarcreek, PA

Full guide →

Founded 1796

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 24m. Total distance: 269.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (13%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 153 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.74 in tolls one way, starting with Centre Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

Yes — we found about 21 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 222 BUS / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.8 miles (US 209 / Mauch Chunk Street): Navigation decision point; at 72 miles (PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sugarcreek, PA before the return drive.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

More trips to Sugarcreek, PA

Explore more options from Reading, PA or browse trips ending in Sugarcreek, PA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.